Trump's voided presidential pardon backfires in Fauci fight
Anthony Fauci, the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and medical advisor to several U.S. presidents, attends a U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 29, 2026. Anthony Fauci declined to answer questions, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. REUTERS/Nathan Howard TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
President Donald Trump's campaign to void former President Biden's pardons has backfired by giving Dr. Anthony Fauci legal justification to refuse testimony at a Senate hearing, according to pro-Trump former prosecutor Bill Shipley.
Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment repeatedly when subpoenaed by the Senate Homeland Security Committee to discuss the pandemic response and COVID-19 origins.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) threatened "repercussions" for Fauci's silence and had Capitol Police remove his attorney David Schertler from the hearing room, Politico reported.
"Congress should write Fauci a Grant of Immunity using the exact language of the Pardon so it is co-extensive," Schertler wrote on social media.
He argued Trump's threats to invalidate Biden's pardons, which Trump declared "null and void" in December 2025, gave Fauci legitimate grounds to claim his testimony could incriminate him if the pardon is voided.
Shipley added, Trump's quest to void Biden's pardons had undermined the efforts of Senate Republicans, who contended the pardon should strip Fifth Amendment protections because it eliminates threats for prosecution.
Shipley suggested Congress could grant immunity to compel testimony, or Fauci would face contempt charges.
